Retribution will overhaul the game's bounty system, improve computer AI, streamline its aggression mechanics and add a host of new ships, among other features.

"We looked at the bounty system, and I think our definition of what a criminal is, is a little bit outdated. One thing we found out, when we looked at who was doing 'bad' things, was that essentially the worst criminals were really good at keeping their hands clean," lead designer Kristoffer Tuoborg told Zam.

"With Retribution, it will be as simple as clicking a button on their character page. Eve is such a complex social game that we can't really dictate who's bad and who's not."

CCP Games is also expanding the EVE Online universe with the release of Dust 514, a first-person shooter set within the game's universe that includes a range of cross-platform features.